1. The UNESCO Internet Study:
Keystones to Foster
Inclusive Knowledge Societies
William H. Dutton
Quello Professor of Media and Information Policy
Quello Center, Michigan State University
Follow @QuelloCenter
Presentation for UNESCO’s Session C9 of the WSIS Forum, Geneva,
Switzerland, 28 May 2015.

2. UNESCO’s Vision:
Universal Knowledge Societies
Free, Open and Trusted Internet
Worldwide Information & Knowledge Resources
- Ability to Access, but also
- Ability to Contribute Information & Knowledge
Sustainable Social and Economic Development

3. The Internet: Broadly Defined
Interconnected Information & Communication
Technologies, such as the Internet and
- Web
- Social Media
- Developing Mobile Internet
- Internet of Things (IoT), and
- Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Robotics

4. Keystones for a Global Internet
• Access to Information and
Knowledge
• Freedom of Expression
• Privacy
• Ethical Use Online

5. UNESCO’s Internet Study
Identified Four Fields – Metaphorical Keystones
for Bridges to Inclusive Knowledge Societies
Framework of Internet Universality – R-O-A-M
Normative Principles to Guide Actions
Multi-round Consultation on Report and
‘CONNECTing the Dots’ Conference, March 2015

6. Consultations and Feedback
Review and Synthesis of UNESCO Reports and
Documents
Anchored in Academic and Research Literature
Multi-Stage Consultation Process including all
UNESCO Member States with over 200
Responses and Submissions, Plus Conference
Captured in Report [MAXQDA]

7. Access to Information & Knowledge

8. 172
115
1,310
4
467
159
639
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
TotalnumberofInternetusers(millions)
Source: ITU – http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx. March 2015.
Africa Arab States Asia & Pacific CIS Europe The Americas

9. Freedom of Expression

10. Privacy on a Global Internet

11. Ethics on a Global Internet

12. • Big Data
Resources
• Surveillance
• New Challenges
(IoT)
• Moral Panics over
Social Media
• More Connected
• Rise of Filtering
• Greater Access
• Deepening
Divides
Access to
Information
&
Knowledge
Freedom of
Expression
PrivacyEthics

13. R-O-A-M Principles for Internet Universality
• Human-rights Based, Expression, Privacy, ..
• Diversity, Equality, Security, and Education
Rights
• Open Standards, Interfaces, Text, Data, ..
• Technical Expertise, and Political Support
Open
• Accessible to All – Create and Consume
• Overcome Exclusions: Skills, Literacy, Disability
Access
• Incorporating Users, User-Centric Perspectives
• Government, Private Sector, Civil Society, Tech
Multi-Stakeholder
Participative

14. The Next Decade
Last Decade’s Narrative: Technical Innovations
The Next Decade’s Narrative: Policy, Regulation
& Governance
At Stake:
• The Vitality of the Internet
• Inclusive Knowledge Societies
• Global Economic and Social Development